William Worrall Mayo (Founder)
The English-born physician who settled in Rochester, Minnesota, and founded the medical practice that grew into Mayo Clinic. His commitment to rigorous, science-based medicine set the tone for everything that followed.
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The medical school of Mayo Clinic, the number one hospital in the United States, with campuses in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida.




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United States
Country
Rochester (MN)
City
#1 Hospital (US)
Ranking
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction





The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine building in Rochester, Minnesota
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Recognition & Prestige
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is built around Mayo Clinic, one of the most respected medical institutions in the world. Its recognition rests above all on the standing of its teaching hospital, ranked the number one hospital in the United States, and on a long history of clinical innovation.
#1
US News Best Hospitals — Mayo Clinic (2025-26, 36th time)
#1
Newsweek World's Best Hospital 2026 — Mayo Clinic
The medical degree is recognised internationally. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine's MD programme is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). An LCME-accredited MD makes graduates eligible to sit the Indian screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for licensing.

LCME
The MD programme is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the recognised accrediting body for MD-granting medical schools in the United States.

WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), the global directory of accredited medical schools.

NMC (India) eligibility
An LCME-accredited MD is recognised for Indian licensing eligibility: graduates may sit the NMC screening examination (FMGE/NExT). The NMC does not accredit US schools, so this is eligibility, not accreditation.
Complete Information About Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Get complete information about the US MD pathway at Mayo, including honest guidance for Indian students.
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Academic Excellence
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is built around one of the world's most respected medical institutions. These are the reasons it is so highly regarded, useful context even though it is not a practical route for students applying from India.
Read all about studying medicine abroad in our free guide
Learn which countries genuinely admit Indian students to medicine, and how the US MD route really works.
How to Apply
Admission to the MD at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), based on a completed bachelor's degree, the MCAT and a holistic review. Mayo admits only a very small number of international students, and foreign nationals must generally show eligibility to file the US FAFSA or receive Canadian financial aid. There is no NEET requirement and no direct entry after Class 12.
The AMCAS application for the entering MD class opens for submission.
Final date to submit the AMCAS application to Mayo for the cycle.
Eligible applicants complete the Mayo supplemental application and essays.
Invited candidates complete Mayo interviews.
Offers of admission are released on a rolling basis.
The new MD class matriculates and orientation begins.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree from an accredited US institution before matriculation, together with the required pre-medical coursework and strong performance in the sciences.
Subjects:
This is the decisive eligibility point for Indian students. Mayo admits only a small number of international students, and foreign nationals are generally eligible only if they can show, at the time of application, eligibility to file the US FAFSA or to receive Canadian federal or provincial financial aid. A student applying from India normally cannot meet this condition.
Eligible applicants must submit the AMCAS application with MCAT scores, then complete the Mayo secondary application and interview. Selection is holistic, with strong weight on academics, research and service.
Entrance Exam
The MCAT is required for all applicants. The average matriculant score is about 521; there is no published minimum cutoff and there is no separate university entrance exam.
Aid Eligibility
Foreign nationals are generally eligible only if they can file the US FAFSA or receive Canadian financial aid, which is a significant barrier for applicants from India.
Admission is based on the MCAT and a holistic review of the whole application, not on category-wise minimum marks.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) | Required for all applicants. Average matriculant score about 521 out of 528. No fixed minimum — reviewed holistically. |
| Undergraduate GPA | Average matriculant GPA is about 3.95 out of 4.00, with strong performance expected in the pre-medical sciences. |
Eligible applicants submit essential academic, testing and identification documents:
Understand the Real US Pathway
Get honest guidance on the US MD route and on countries that genuinely admit Indian students to medicine.
Program Structure
Students follow a four-year MD curriculum that combines strong basic science, early clinical experience at Mayo Clinic, and the distinctive Science of Health Care Delivery strand, taught entirely in English.
Total Duration:
4 Years
Degree:
MD (Doctor of Medicine, equivalent to MBBS)
Pre-clerkship (Years 1–2)
Integrated basic and clinical sciences with early patient contact at Mayo Clinic, alongside the start of the Science of Health Care Delivery strand:
Clerkships (Year 3)
Core clinical clerkships across the major specialties at Mayo Clinic hospitals, giving hands-on patient care experience within Mayo's team-based model:
Advanced Study (Year 4)
Advanced electives, sub-internships and a research or scholarly experience, with the Science of Health Care Delivery certificate completed alongside clinical training:
Clinical training takes place at Mayo Clinic across its Rochester, Arizona and Florida campuses, beginning with early clinical skills and building to full core clerkships and advanced electives.
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pre-clerkship | Integrated science and early clinical skills at Mayo Clinic. |
| Core Clerkships | Core clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecology, psychiatry and neurology at Mayo hospitals. |
| Advanced Study | Advanced electives, sub-internships and the Science of Health Care Delivery experience. |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free guide to see how the US MD curriculum works and how it compares with other routes.
Clinical Network
Mayo is a US school and does not run the EU Erasmus+ exchange programme. Instead, it teaches across Mayo Clinic's own campuses and health system, where students complete their clinical training. The sites and partners below are among the principal parts of that network.
| Institution | Focus / Role |
|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic, Rochester (Minnesota) | Flagship campus and #1-ranked US hospital; main MD campus |
| Mayo Clinic, Arizona (Phoenix/Scottsdale) | Full MD campus and teaching hospital in the Southwest |
| Mayo Clinic, Florida (Jacksonville) | Full MD campus and teaching hospital in the Southeast |
| Mayo Clinic Cancer Center | Oncology teaching and research across campuses |
| Mayo Clinic Children's Center | Paediatrics teaching and care |
| Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences | PhD and MD-PhD research training |
| Mayo Clinic Health System | Regional hospitals and clinics across the Midwest |
| Arizona State University (partner) | Co-developer of the Science of Health Care Delivery |
| Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine | Genomics and precision-medicine research |
| Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center | Science of Health Care Delivery research |
Explore the Mayo Clinic Network
The list above highlights the campuses and centres where Mayo medical students train. Get the full picture from our experts.
Legacy
Because the medical school opened in 1972, its legacy is inseparable from the wider Mayo Clinic, whose founders and physicians reshaped modern medicine. These are some of the most influential figures in that history.
The English-born physician who settled in Rochester, Minnesota, and founded the medical practice that grew into Mayo Clinic. His commitment to rigorous, science-based medicine set the tone for everything that followed.
A pioneering surgeon who helped build Mayo Clinic into the world's first integrated group medical practice. He championed teamwork among specialists, a model that transformed how hospitals are organised.
An equally influential surgeon and co-founder of Mayo Clinic. Together the Mayo brothers made Rochester a destination for patients and doctors from around the world.
The physician-engineer who designed Mayo Clinic's integrated systems, including the unified patient medical record and interconnected clinic buildings. His innovations underpin Mayo's coordinated, team-based care.
Developed the rapid frozen-section technique at Mayo Clinic, allowing surgeons to receive a tissue diagnosis within minutes during an operation. The method is still used in operating theatres worldwide.
A Mayo Clinic biochemist who shared the 1950 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on the hormones of the adrenal cortex, including the isolation of cortisone, opening the way to steroid-based treatments.
A Mayo Clinic physician who shared the 1950 Nobel Prize with Kendall for showing that cortisone could dramatically relieve rheumatoid arthritis. His work transformed the treatment of inflammatory disease.
Mayo medicine is taught by a large faculty of practising physicians, surgeons and scientists within Mayo Clinic's integrated group practice. Students learn directly from clinicians who care for patients from around the world, in one of the most respected health systems anywhere.
Physicians and surgeons at the #1 US hospital
Faculty across every major specialty
Leaders in health-systems science
Researchers in individualized and precision medicine
Small class with individual attention
Faculty advising and mentorship
Clinical supervision within the Mayo team model
Research mentorship across Mayo institutes
About University

An illuminated arch bridge over a Minnesota river at night

A historic stone arch bridge and a Minnesota city skyline at dusk
Get all information about the US MD pathway in our free guide
Read on to understand the US medical-education system and honest options for Indian students.
Role in medicine

A Minnesota twin-cities skyline at dusk over the river
Get all information about the US MD pathway in our free guide
Read on to understand how the US system works and what it means for Indian students.
Cost of studying
Rochester, Minnesota is a smaller, more affordable city than Boston, San Francisco or New York, so living costs at Mayo's main campus are lower than at many top US medical schools. Here is an approximate monthly breakdown for an MD student, quoted in Indian rupees.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (rent, Rochester MN) | ₹70,000 – ₹1,20,000 |
| Food | ₹35,000 – ₹55,000 |
| Transportation (local transit) | ₹5,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Health Insurance & Other (utilities, internet, personal) | ₹40,000 – ₹65,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹1,50,000 – ₹2,50,000
Housing
Mayo medical students generally rent apartments close to the Rochester, Arizona or Florida campuses, supported by Mayo's student services. Rochester in particular offers affordable housing within walking or short-commute distance of the clinic.
Most students rent apartments close to the Mayo campus they are based at, keeping commutes short and giving easy access to the clinic and classrooms.
Rochester, Minnesota has a relatively low cost of living for a US medical city, so rents are far more manageable than in Boston or San Francisco.
Students can choose from studio, one-bedroom and shared apartments, furnished or unfurnished, depending on budget and preference.
Apartments include kitchens, making it easy and economical for students to cook their own meals, including Indian food.
Housing costs are moderate, especially in Rochester. Confirm current typical rents and any Mayo housing resources with student services when planning a budget.
Mayo's student services help newly admitted students find housing and settle into Rochester, Arizona or Florida.
Rochester is compact and walkable near the clinic, with local transit and, in winter, the city's subway and skyway system connecting downtown buildings.
Students based in Arizona (Phoenix/Scottsdale) or Florida (Jacksonville) rent in those cities instead, where costs and neighbourhoods differ from Rochester.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian and vegetarian food is available in Rochester and more widely across the Mayo campus cities, and students can easily cook at home.
Mayo Clinic campuses have cafeterias and cafes serving affordable daily meals near classes and the hospital, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
Location
200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States (main campus)
Nearest Airport
Rochester International Airport (RST); Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP) is about 90 minutes away
Local Transport
Rochester is compact and walkable near the clinic, with local buses and a downtown subway-and-skyway system linking Mayo buildings.
Your Roadmap to Success
Graduates earn the MD (Doctor of Medicine) from the medical school of Mayo Clinic, a degree recognised internationally and equivalent to the MBBS.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
An MD from an LCME-accredited US school such as Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is accepted for the Indian licensing route, provided the graduate meets the NMC's foreign medical graduate criteria. In practice this applies to the small number of Indian-origin graduates who were eligible to study at Mayo.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. This is currently the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is transitioning to the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, gaining supervised clinical experience across the major departments.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council, after which the graduate can practise as a doctor in India.
Student Life Style
Studying for the MD is a mix of intensive academics, early clinical exposure and personal growth, within one of the world's most respected health systems. Mayo's smaller class sizes and Rochester's manageable scale give a close-knit, supportive student experience.

A Minnesota riverfront and city skyline at dusk
Scholarship & Financial
Mayo offers exceptional scholarship support for its MD students, transformed by the Jay Alix gift, though most US financial aid is aimed at US students.
The 2018 gift of $200 million from businessman Jay Alix funds scholarships for MD students, substantially reducing tuition costs so that Mayo graduates carry far less debt than the US average.
Ratings
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4.9
95 reviews
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Quick Comparison:
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine vs AIIMS Delhi
| University | Mayo Clinic AlixRochester, USA | AIIMS DelhiIndia |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Private, operated by Mayo Clinic | Public (Institute of National Importance) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 4 years (MD, graduate-entry) | 5.5 years (MBBS, incl. internship) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹65.2 lakh ($67,900), offset by Alix scholarships | ~₹1,600 (nominal government fees) |
| Admission | Bachelor's + MCAT + AMCAS; FAFSA/Canadian-aid eligibility for foreign nationals | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | LCME / WDOMS; NMC-eligible via screening | NMC-recognised |
| International students | Very limited (aid-eligibility gated) | Admitted via NEET / dedicated seats |
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